BY SACNILK

Hyderabad, February 2 - Actor Nani's returned to the big screen with the latest period romantic drama film "Shyam Singha Roy". Directed by Rahul Sankrityan, the movie is partly set in the backdrop of Kolkata in the 1970s and it is based on the theme of reincarnation. ## Upon the release in theaters, "Shyam Singh Roy" received a positive reception from the critics and audiences alike. The movie also did well at the box office and grossed approx Rs. 48 crores worldwide. Just like most of the other recent films, "Shyam Singh Roy" was also made available on OTT after 28 days of theatrical release. ## Produced by Niharika Entertainment, "Shyam Singha Roy" started streaming on Netflix on January 21, 2022. After its successful stint (still running on select screens) at the box office, the movie is also receiving a well-desarved response on OTT.## According to Netflix data, "Shyam Singh Roy" was the most viewed Indian title on the streamer in January last week. Among the Top 10 most viewed Non-English films on Netflix from January 24 to January 30, "Shyam Singha Roy" was the 4th most viewed film with 2.88 million viewing hours. It also remained in the Top 10 list for the second week in a row. ## "Shyam Singh Roy" is streaming in Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam on Netflix. In the film, Nani plays a dual role alongside Sai Pallavi, Krithi Shetty, and Madonna Sebastian as leading ladies. It also stars Rahul Ravindran, Jisshu Sengupta, Murali Sharma, Abhinav Gomatam, among others in key roles. ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, February 1 - Tom Hiddleston got his first-ever solo Marvel project when "Loki" season 1 opened up in summer 2021. The 6-episode Disney+ series, based on Marvel comic book charactor, opened up the door to Marvel Cinematic Universe's (MCU) multiverse upon its release. ## The series, created by Michael Waldron, was one of the most loved Marvel projects of 2021 on Disney+ and it eventually set the tone for Marvel Studios to take some of the franchise's biggest steps toward expanding the universe in Phase 4. Although, it was the most pirated show of 2021, "Loki" became the marvel project to officially greenlit for season 2. ## Season 2 of "Loki" was confirmed during the end credit of the final episode of Season 1, however, it was not revealed when will season 2 commence and will release. But now, there is good news regarding the same for the fans of Hiddleston's God of Mischief.## According to Backstage (The Direct), Marvel Studios is planning to commence the shoot of Tom Hiddleston's "Loki" season 2 in London in the Summer of 2022. It is reported that the filming is set to take place at the United Kingdom's Pinewood Studios, though the casting details were not confirmed yet. Meanwhile, Hiddleston's Loki will appear in the feature "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness", due in May 2022. ## There is, however, no idea what is going to happen in season 2 of "Loki". Given the fact that MCU's Multiversal storyline has so much in store, there are plenty of variables in play for what could happen in Loki Season 2. We might get a little bit of the idea after the release of "Doctor Strange 2". ## It is reported that the filming of "Loki" season 2 might take a minimum of 6 months, so the release of the show is unlikely before summer 2023. The premiere of "Loki 2" will also depend on what happens with Jonathan Major's Kang the Conqueror in "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania", which is slated to release in July 2023.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, January 31 - Netflix took a giant step to lure the Indian audiences by announcing the two-season prequel series of SS Rajamouli's all-time blockbuster feature "Baahubali", back in 2018. The streaming giant collaborated with Arka Mediaworks to produce the series with Deva Katta and Praveen Sattaru to direct. ## The first season of the prequel series, titled "Baahubali: Before The Beginning" was directed by Katta using sets in Hyderabad. However, Netflix was reportedly not happy with the finished project, which led to the cancellation of the show, reports Variety. It was later reported that the show went through casting changes other than directors, including one who had directed two previous Netflix projects. ## However, despite months of preparation and planning, Netflix couldn't reach the final outcome of the show, which led to the speculation that the streamer has shelved the project. It was reported that the continuous delay in production cost Netflix a whopping Rs. 150 crores loss. ## While it is true that "Baahubali: Before The Beginning" is currently not in production, unlike speculations and reports, it is not shelved. According to Variety, the show is now being reevaluated, and will now begin only after proper planning to bring the best version of this story. ## "'Baahubali: Before the Beginning' is one of the country's most loved IPs (but) creating India's first epic series comes with its own challenges", the source told Variety. "The last two years with COVID were full of complexities and hurdles, which impacted productions, especially one of this scale".## Based on the bestselling "Baahubali" franchise novel "The Rise of Sivagami" by Anand Neelakantan, the series was to follow the journey of Queen Sivagami from a rebellious girl to a wise queen.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, January 28 - John Cena-fronted HBO Max series, "Peacemaker" is getting massive attention worldwide. The comedy series, which is a spinoff of James Gunn's last year's "The Suicide Squad", is currently the most-in-demand series globally. ## Created and directed by James Gunn, "Peacemaker" was 69.5 times more in demand than the average series, according to the data firm Parrot Analytics (via business insider). Parrot Analytics measures audience demand, which accounts for the interest in and engagement with, or overall popularity, of a TV series.## The series is currently among the most rated DC Comics titles on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 94%. It stars John Cena as the title character, reprising his role from The Suicide Squad, with Danielle Brooks, Freddie Stroma, Chukwudi Iwuji, Jennifer Holland, Steve Agee, and Robert Patrick also playing key roles.## As per the report, "Peacemaker" surpassed Netflix's hit fantasy series "The Witcher" and Disney+'s "Star Wars" show "The Book of Boba Fett" in demand. Interestingly, the total demand for the Max series grew by 39.2% in 2021 whereas Netflix originals in the same 12-month period grew only by 10.3%.## Going by the report of the business insider, HBO Max was the fastest-growing major streaming service in 2021 when it came to the demand share for originals, according to Parrot Analytics. This is interesting, knowing the fact that HBO Max has far fewer subscribers than Netflix or other popular streamers. ## "Peacemaker" premiered on HBO Max on January 13, 2022, with its first three episodes. The rest of the series is being released weekly through February 17. ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Los Angeles, January 25 - The upcoming HBO Max feature film "Batgirl", based on DC Comics has officially cast Ivory Aquino as Alysia Yeoh. Both Aquino and Yeoh are transgender, marking the first time a live-action DC Comics feature film will feature an openly trans character.## Ivory Aquino as Alysia Yeoh will play the best friend of the titular superhero, a.k.a. Barbara Gordon played by Leslie Grace in this original HBO Max film. Yeoh first appeared in a 2011 issue of "Batgirl" written by Gail Simone and penciled by Ardian Syaf.## According to Variety, news of Aquino's casting first leaked online in mid-January after Grace posted a photo seemingly from the set of the film to her Instagram story, tagging Aquino and captioning the shot (of two women crossing the street) with "Barbara and Alysia".## There have been several strides in broadening LGBTQ+ representation in superhero adaptations over the past few years. The latest such example was seen in Marvel Studios' feature film "Eternals", which included the Marvel Cinematic Universe's first same-sex couple, played by Brian Tyree Henry and Haaz Sleiman.## Meanwhile, the "Batgirl" is being directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah. It also stars J.K. Simmons, Brendan Fraser, Michael Keaton (reprising his role as Bruce Wayne/Batman, which he will first do in "The Flash" in late 2022), and Jacob Scipio. "Batgirl" is currently slated for a late 2022 release on HBO Max.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Hyderabad, January 23 - Telugu movie, "Akhanda", starring Nandamuri Balakrishna in the lead role, was a big hit at the box office. Released on December 2 last year, the action drama is still playing in select theaters and has so far earned over Rs. 125 crores worldwide. ## Directed by Boyapati Srinu, "Akhanda" was made available on Disney Plus Hotstar on January 21, 2022, and received a blockbuster response on its digital premiere as well. According to the producers, "Akhanda" has become the all-time highest viewing Indian film in the first-24 hours.## Dwaraka Creations, the production house of the film, took to Twitter and announced the milestone achievement. Though the makers didn't share the viewing numbers, they claimed the film is most viewed in the 24-hours. The makers had also claimed recently that the movie has grossed Rs. 200 crores worldwide through theatrical and digital revenue.## #Akhanda🦁 Becomes 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘 𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪𝗘𝗗 𝗙𝗜𝗟𝗠 in 24Hrs through Digital Premiere💥Stream: https://t.co/ye2wA054Jk#AkhandaRoarOnHotstar#NandamuriBalakrishna#BoyapatiSreenu @MusicThaman @ItsMePragya @DisneyPlusHSTel @DisneyPlusHS #MiryalaRavinderReddy pic.twitter.com/u3mgK55doF— Dwaraka Creations (@dwarakacreation) January 22, 2022 ## "Akhanda" marks NBK and director Boyapati Srinu's third collaboration after "Simha" (2010) and "Legend" (2014). With their latest collaboration, the due maintained their 100% success ratio. The actor played a dual role as Akhanda Rudra Sikandar Aghora and Murali Krishna in the film alongside Pragya Jaiswal as the female lead, Jagapathi Babu, and Srikanth in key roles.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, January 22 - Marvel fans were eagerly waiting for studios' next Disney+ series, "Moon Knight", and justifying that keenness, the fans around the world gave a blockbuster response to the trailer, released this week during Monday's NFL wild-card game.## The first trailer of "Moon Knight" boasts over 1 million likes on Marvel's official YouTube channel. This sets the record for the most-liked trailer for an MCU Disney+ series, also becoming the first trailer in this category to break the 1 million likes milestone. It beat the first trailers for "Hawkeye" (915k) and "WandaVision" (760k).## Not just likes, "Moon Knight" is also one of the most viewed MCU Disney+ series in the first 24-hours. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the trailer generated over 75 million views — 52 million online, 23 million from the broadcast. It scored higher numbers than "Loki" (60 million) and "WandaVision" (52 million), being outscored only by "Falcon and the Winter Soldier", which was viewed 125 million times in its first 24 hours.## The trailer was also a hot topic on social media as its Social engagement was the highest for any Marvel series so far, with 263,000 mentions, beating the first content release for "WandaVision" (241,000) and "Winter Soldier" (218,000), and even "The Mandalorian" (221,000), according to The Direct.## The superhero series stars Oscar Isaac as Marc Spector/Moon Knight. In the series, "Marc Spector, a mercenary who suffers from dissociative identity disorder, is drawn into a deadly mystery involving Egyptian gods with his multiple identities, such as Steven Grant". It also stars Ethan Hawke while Jeremy Slater serves as a head writer with Mohamed Diab leading the directing team.## It is intended to be the sixth television series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The series is slated to premiere on Disney+ on March 30, 2022.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, Jan 22 (IANS) As 'Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein', starring Tahir Raj Bhasin and Shweta Tripathi, garners a positive audience response, the director of the web series, Sidharth Sengupta, decodes one of the most poetic scenes that is laced with the song 'Bahaaro Bahaaro'.## The scene comes at a point when Vikrant and Shikha are seen running for their lives, amidst guns, smoke, and bombs. This is in sharp contrast to the chaos that ensues around them. Throughout the scene, the tension remains high as they get caught in the crossfire, and yet the song 'Bahaaro Bahaaro' plays in the background.## The contrast between the violence and the poetry is beautifully captured.## "This scene is something that I've put a lot of thought and heart into," commented Sengupta. "I believe it perfectly captures the situation the two characters find themselves in as they literally fight for their love against the world. The high-octane action and raw emotions are perfectly captured by our amazing DOP Murzy Pagdiwala and beautifully scored by Shivam Sengupta and Anuj Danait".## The show is streaming on Netflix.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, Jan 22 (IANS) Screenwriter-director Jaideep Sahni, who has creatively collaborated with Aditya Chopra in films such as 'Chak De! India', 'Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year', 'Bunty Aur Babli' and 'Shudh Desi Romance', will be an exclusive creator for YRF Entertainment.## YRF Entertainment is Yash Raj Films' OTT venture.## "Jaideep Sahni has been roped in by him to become an exclusive creator for YRF Entertainment. Jaideep has always wowed everyone with his scripts and this development signifies that we can expect some of the best content coming out of YRF in the digital space," said a source.## "Jaideep has been writing and developing some brilliant gems over the last 10 years. It is certain that he will write and create YRF Entertainment's second digital series.## "The reclusive, maverick writer has been keeping cards close to his chest and looks like he will dish out multiple content-forward projects in the years to come," the source added.## According to the source, Jaideep will create a genre of his own in the Hindi content space with his first project for YRF Entertainment that is set to roll early next year.## "Aditya (Chopra) and the team at YRF have been blown away with this sparkling script and we hear casting is going to start now."## YRF Entertainment recently announced their maiden OTT project 'The Railway Men', about the untold heroes of the Bhopal gas tragedy that rocked the nation in 1984.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Bangalore, Jan 21 (IANS) Honouring the creative prowess of the late Puneeth Rajkumar, Prime Video on Friday announced the premiere of three new Kannada movies from his PRK Productions.## The films are 'Man of the Match', 'One Cut Two Cut' and 'Family Pack' and they will be available exclusively for Prime Members worldwide.## The three-film announcement is an ode to the craft and legacy of the late actor and filmmaker whose contribution to cinema will make his legacy a part of all creative conversations. Featuring popular faces from the Kannada film industry, this repertoire of films will premiere on Prime Video in India and across 240 countries and territories worldwide.## The cast of 'Man of the Match', a modern-day reflection of human emotions and social challenges, also stars some of the finest upcoming actors, such as Atharva Prakash, K. Jayaram, Dharmanna Kadur, and Nataraj. 'One Cut Two Cut', which is a mad-cap comedy, narrates the story of a day when everything went haywire. It features Danish Sait, Prakash Belavadi, and Samyukta Hornad. 'Family Pack' is a romantic comedy starring Likith Shetty and Amrutha Iyengar in lead roles.## Talking about the association with PRK Productions, Manish Menghani, Head, Content Licensing, Amazon Prime Video, said: "Over the last few years, we have had a successful association with PRK Productions. This collaboration is our effort to pay a humble tribute to the creative excellence of the late Puneeth Rajkumar and his unique vision of storytelling".## The Prime Video statement also said that five of Puneeth Rajkumar's most memorable productions -- 'Law', 'French Biryani', 'Kavaludaari', 'Mayabazaar' and 'Yuvarathnaa' -- will be available for free viewing for a month, starting on February 1, to non-Prime members as well.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Los Angeles, Jan 21 (IANS) 'Lucifer', a drama that debuted on the Fox broadcast network before becoming a Netflix show in 2018, topped Nielsen's list of the most-streamed original series of 2021 in the United States, reports 'Deadline'.## The 93 episodes of the series netted more than 18.3 billion minutes of streaming during the year, according to the measurement firm's year-end report. That put it well in front of the 16.4 billion notched up by 'Squid Game', but the Korean phenomenon had only nine episodes on Netflix in 2021.## Interestingly, reflecting the diversity of the U.S. audience, roughly 15 percent of the American viewers of 'Squid Game' watched the Korean-language original of the series.## In saving the show after it was canceled by Fox, according to 'Deadline', Netflix established a precedent that it has occasionally followed with other acquired properties that become popular on its platform. (A recent example was the former NBC series 'Manifest', which racked up almost 20 billion viewing minutes last year with just 42 episodes).## Three non-Netflix shows made the originals chart: 'The Handmaid's Tale' on Hulu, 'Ted Lasso' on Apple TV+ and 'Wandavision' on Disney+.## On the movie chart, 'Luca' recorded a decisive win, gathering about 10.6 billion minutes of viewing. The winsome, well-reviewed Pixar feature, says 'Deadline', did not have a theatrical run last summer and was instead released directly on Disney+.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, Jan 21 (IANS) Content creator and actress Prajakta Koli has become India's first UN Development Programme (UNDP) Youth Climate Champion under her partnership with the organization. ## The title has been conferred to her following her contribution towards mental health, women's rights and girl child education through various global social campaigns. ## UNDP aims to eliminate poverty, achieve sustainable growth, and scale-up human development in countries where it is required the most. ## As a part of her responsibilities now, Prajakta will be entrusted with interacting with young minds to raise awareness around climate crisis, global warming and biodiversity loss and their impacts, the tremors of which are being felt by all sections of the society, especially the poor and marginalized communities. ## Speaking on the occasion, Prajakta said in a statement: "I am extremely humbled and honoured to have been entitled with this unique responsibility to champion a cause that is close to my heart. As the very first UNDP India Youth Climate Champion, I would like to produce and participate in opportunities that propel conversations around climate action and the urgent measures we must take." ## Commenting on how youth can make a difference, her statement further read: "The youth need to be the torchbearers of this revolution and foot soldiers who will work towards the common goal of an enriched and empowered future where the human species doesn't become endangered. We have created this problem, but we can solve it too. With UNDP, I will strive to work with young minds across the globe to take appropriate measures for climate action." ## Welcoming Prajakta, Shoko Noda, Resident Representative, UNDP India says: "We are excited to have Prajakta on board as the UNDP India Youth Climate Champion. Young people are the leading voice to make the world more sustainable. Prajakta has a strong connect with millions of young Indians. I am sure her voice reaches the hearts of youth, and inspires them to take climate action." ## In the past, the content creator has spoken up on issues like body shaming and online bullying with 'Shameless' as part of her campaign #iPledgeToBeMe which came into force on World Mental Health Day in 2016. ## As a global ambassador for YouTube's 'Creators For Change' initiative, she drew the attention of people to trolling, female subjugation and homophobia through her campaign 'No Offence' which was showcased at the UN headquarters in New York on International Tolerance Day. ## In 2018, saw three initiatives and social cause partnerships from her, first with YouTube for Social Impact Girl's Education campaign, with Instagram on their Safer Internet Week campaign and with One.org for their Girl Education campaign. ## In 2019 she received an invite from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for their annual Goalkeepers Summit. ## Last year, she joined Google's Impact Challenge to aid grants to non-profits addressing economic inequities faced by women and girls. ##